diff --git a/src/apa102/apa102.cxx b/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
index a43004a9..264c7418 100644
--- a/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
+++ b/src/apa102/apa102.cxx
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ APA102::setLed(uint16_t ledIdx, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_
     setLeds(ledIdx, ledIdx, brightness, r, g, b);
 }
 
+void
+APA102::setLedBrightness(uint16_t ledIdx, uint8_t brightness)
+{
+    setLedsBrightness(ledIdx, ledIdx, brightness);
+}
+
 void
 APA102::setAllLeds(uint8_t brightness, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b)
 {
@@ -120,6 +126,21 @@ APA102::setLeds(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t
     }
 }
 
+void
+APA102::setLedsBrightness(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t brightness)
+{
+    uint16_t s_idx = (startIdx + 1) * 4;
+    uint16_t e_idx = (endIdx + 1) * 4;
+
+    for (uint16_t i = s_idx; i <= e_idx; i += 4) {
+        m_leds[i] = brightness | 224;
+    }
+
+    if (!m_batchMode) {
+        pushState();
+    }
+}
+
 void
 APA102::setLeds(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t* colors)
 {
@@ -131,6 +152,15 @@ APA102::setLeds(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t* colors)
     }
 }
 
+void
+APA102::setBusSpeed(int hz)
+{
+    if (m_spi->frequency(hz) != mraa::SUCCESS) {
+        throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                    ": Failed to change SPI bus speed");
+    }
+}
+
 void
 APA102::pushState(void)
 {
diff --git a/src/apa102/apa102.hpp b/src/apa102/apa102.hpp
index 34033e8b..24437306 100644
--- a/src/apa102/apa102.hpp
+++ b/src/apa102/apa102.hpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class APA102
     ~APA102();
 
     /**
-     * Change the color for a single led
+     * Change the color and brightness for a single led
      *
      * @param ledIdx        Index of the LED in the strip (0 based)
      * @param brightness    Brightness value (0-31)
@@ -85,7 +85,15 @@ class APA102
     void setLed(uint16_t ledIdx, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
 
     /**
-     * Change the color for all leds
+     * Change the brightness for a single led
+     *
+     * @param ledIdx        Index of the LED in the strip (0 based)
+     * @param brightness    Brightness value (0-31)
+     */
+    void setLedBrightness(uint16_t ledIdx, uint8_t brightness);
+
+    /**
+     * Change the color and brightness for all leds
      *
      * @param brightness    Brightness value (0-31)
      * @param r             Red component (0-255)
@@ -95,7 +103,7 @@ class APA102
     void setAllLeds(uint8_t brightness, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
 
     /**
-     * Change the color for a range of leds
+     * Change the color and brightness for a range of leds
      *
      * @param startIdx      Start index of the range of LEDs in the strip (0 based)
      * @param endIdx        End index of the range of LEDs in the strip (0 based)
@@ -108,7 +116,17 @@ class APA102
     setLeds(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
 
     /**
-     * (Advanced) Manually control the colors of a range of LEDS
+     * Change the brightness for a range of leds
+     *
+     * @param startIdx      Start index of the range of LEDs in the strip (0 based)
+     * @param endIdx        End index of the range of LEDs in the strip (0 based)
+     * @param brightness    Brightness value (0-31)
+     */
+    void
+    setLedsBrightness(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t brightness);
+
+    /**
+     * (Advanced) Manually control the colors and brightness of a range of LEDS
      * Best used to maximize performance
      *
      * @param startIdx      Start index of the range of LEDs to update (0 based)
@@ -120,6 +138,15 @@ class APA102
      */
     void setLeds(uint16_t startIdx, uint16_t endIdx, uint8_t* colors);
 
+    /**
+     * Change the speed/frequency of the SPI bus
+     * Note: Slower speeds will allow driving longer strips without having to
+     * condition the clock signal with extra hardware
+     *
+     * @param hz    Desired bus speed in Hz
+     */
+    void setBusSpeed(int hz);
+
     /**
      * Outputs the current LED data to the SPI bus
      * Note: Only required if batch mode is set to TRUE